Hexapod systems join international telescope project

May 1, 2006
Physik Instrumente (PI), Auburn, Mass., will provide 25 six-axis hexapod alignment systems and motion controllers to Vertex Antenna Systems, a daughter

Physik Instrumente (PI), Auburn, Mass., will provide 25 six-axis hexapod alignment systems and motion controllers to Vertex Antenna Systems, a daughter of General Dynamics C4 Systems. The custom high-precision micro-positioning systems will be used to align the secondary reflectors in 25 twelve-meter telescopes in the North American portion of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array Project (ALMA) radio telescope.

ALMA is an international joint effort to build the world's most sensitive radio telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert — 16,500 ft above sea level. Eventually, up to 64 antennas will work together as one giant virtual telescope and provide a spatial resolution 10 times higher than the Hubble Space Telescope.

In the last two decades, PI systems have been used in astronomical telescopes in Hawaii, Chile, South Africa, and the Canary Islands.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 27, 2025
Ensure workplace safety and compliance with our comprehensive Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Safety Training course. Learn critical procedures to prevent serious injuries.
June 27, 2025
Join our expert webinar to discover essential safety control measures and best practices for engineering a truly safe and compliant industrial environment.
June 25, 2025
An innovative aircraft with electric drives combines the best of both worlds. The cross between drone and helicopter could mean significantly faster and more efficient air emergency...
June 25, 2025
Effective when other materials fail, ceramics are particularly suitable for applications requiring wear and chemical resistance, sliding characteristics or biocompatibility. Discover...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!